Titans Insider » Deuce Lutuihttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans
Titans news and analysis from Tennessean.comSun, 16 Mar 2014 15:26:22 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6Deuce Lutui suspended for four gameshttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/03/14/deuce-lutui-suspended-for-four-games/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/03/14/deuce-lutui-suspended-for-four-games/#commentsThu, 14 Mar 2013 18:05:35 +0000JIM WYATT, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=24566Former Titans guard Deuce Lutui has been suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances, according to the NFL.

Lutui, who joined the Titans last September, started eight games. He played the previous six seasons in Arizona.

He’s currently an unrestricted free agent. The Titans were not expected to re-sign him.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2013/03/14/deuce-lutui-suspended-for-four-games/feed/0Leroy Harris headed to Injured Reservehttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/11/06/leroy-harris-headed-for-ir/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/11/06/leroy-harris-headed-for-ir/#commentsTue, 06 Nov 2012 23:18:47 +0000JIM WYATT, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=22962The Titans plan to place guard Leroy Harris on Injured Reserve, which will end his 2012 season. He suffered a partially torn ACL in the Oct. 28 loss to the Colts.

Harris got a second opinion from doctors on Tuesday, and he is expected to undergo surgery at some point.

A six-year veteran, Harris is in the final year of his contract. He’s played in 75 games with 42 starts over the past six seasons. He started the first eight games this season.

Deuce Lutui started in place of Harris last Sunday against the Bears. The Titans re-signed guard Kyle DeVan on Tuesday.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/11/06/leroy-harris-headed-for-ir/feed/0Lutui ready to step up for Titanshttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/11/02/lutui-ready-to-step-up-for-titans/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/11/02/lutui-ready-to-step-up-for-titans/#commentsFri, 02 Nov 2012 18:36:23 +0000JIM WYATT, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=22915Veteran Deuce Lutui will start at right guard on Sunday in place on an injured Leroy Harris.

Lutui hasn’t played in a game this season for the Titans, who signed him after Week 1. He played 93 games, with 72 starts, with the Cardinals from 2006-11.

“I am pretty anxious,’’ Lutui said. “I know when Leroy went down, it is a big loss to the offensive line, but I’ve been studying and waiting for my chance. … I assured (coaches) I will do my best to not miss a beat. I will be ready for this Sunday. I’ve played in a lot of games and the timing is perfect for me to step up for the team.”

Coach Mike Munchak said Harris, who suffered a knee injury against the Colts last week, would continue to be evaluated.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/11/02/lutui-ready-to-step-up-for-titans/feed/0Lutui ready to step in on offensive linehttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/10/31/lutui-ready-to-step-in-on-offensive-line/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/10/31/lutui-ready-to-step-in-on-offensive-line/#commentsWed, 31 Oct 2012 21:54:07 +0000JIM WYATT, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=22868With guard Leroy Harris out for Sunday’s game against the Bears, Titans coach Mike Munchak said Deuce Lutui and Kevin Matthews are in line to replace him.

Matthews stepped in when Harris went down against the Colts, and Munchak said earlier in the week that Matthews would replace Harris against the Bears. On Wednesday, however, Munchak said Lutui is an option.

Lutui hasn’t played since signing with the Titans on Sept. 11.

“Obviously I’ve been around, played the game before and have a lot of games under my belt,’’ Lutui said. “So experience is definitely there. If they need a guy who can step in right away, I feel like I a good fit for that. I am a physical player. I love the challenge, and if I am the guy on Sunday, then I’ll be ready.”

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/10/31/lutui-ready-to-step-in-on-offensive-line/feed/0Lutui excited to work under Matthews, Munchakhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/09/12/lutui-excited-to-work-under-matthews-munchak/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/09/12/lutui-excited-to-work-under-matthews-munchak/#commentsWed, 12 Sep 2012 22:06:20 +0000JOHN GLENNON, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=21827After the Seahawks cut him in the preseason, 6-foot-4, 338-pound guard Deuce Lutui said there were a few teams that expressed interest in signing him after Week 1. But he held out for the Titans, in part because he’d worked with coach Mike Munchak during the Senior Bowl, and in part because of the reputation of Munchak and offensive line coach Bruce Matthews.

“I came to work out for these guys a few week ago, so it was definitely in the works,” said Lutui, signed Tuesday to add depth and experience at the guard position. “I had some (teams) interested. But I told Munchak that if he were to call, I’d commit to him. I wanted to get a chance to get work in from two offensive line gurus like Bruce and Mike. They were huge factors in me coming here.”

A six-year NFL veteran, Lutui started 72 games for the Cardinals. He was a reserve last season, but still played in 15 games. He went to camp with Seattle this year, but was an early cut, beaten out by seventh-round draft pick J.R. Sweezy.

Lutui will provide much-needed depth at guard for the Titans, considering that both Leroy Harris (knee) and Steve Hutchinson (general wear and tear) will regularly be getting some days off during the practice week.

“It means something just being here, and knowing the needs and stuff up front, I’m happy to contribute,” Lutui said. “I’ve got a lot of business to give and there’s a lot of football to play, too.”

Asked to describe his strengths, Lutui said, “Naturally, people would call me a run guy. But I pride myself, too, in the passing game. I’ve got nimble feet for a big guy and can really move in space. I’ve blocked for great passers and runners, and was able to sustain a reputation in this league.”

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/09/12/lutui-excited-to-work-under-matthews-munchak/feed/0Lutui signing adds depth at ailing guard spothttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/09/12/lutui-signing-adds-depth-at-ailing-guard-spot/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/09/12/lutui-signing-adds-depth-at-ailing-guard-spot/#commentsWed, 12 Sep 2012 15:35:59 +0000JOHN GLENNON, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=21801The signing of guard Deuce Lutui gives the Titans some much-needed depth at a position that’s looking a little fragile right now. In the loss to the Patriots, guard Leroy Harris was the only starting offensive lineman not to play every offensive snap, replaced for the last 15by Kevin Matthews.

Coach Mike Munchak said the Titans had been concerned about Harris’ health (he had offseason knee surgery) going into the game, and that the sixth-year pro “started having some issues” late in the third quarter.

Munchak said the plan for Harris at this point is to continue to give him a day off or so from practice every week, in hopes that it will “get him over the hump.”

The Titans are taking a similar tack with the other starting guard, Steve Hutchinson, who’s likely to get a day off from practice many weeks because of general wear and tear accumulated over 11 seasons.

Matthews is a capable replacement at guard, but his natural position is center. So Lutui could wind up playing a more important role than most offensive linemen signed after the start of the season. A six-year NFL veteran, Lutui started 72 games for the Cardinals. He was a reserve last season, but still played in 15 games.

Munchak was familiar with Lutui, the coach explained Tuesday on his radio show on 104.5-FM.

“He’s a guy we actually coached at the Senior Bowl six years ago,” Munchak said. “I got to know him well from coaching him, so I kind of followed his career, and he really played well there. Because of the guard situation with the guys — Leroy having some issues and his knee being a little sore, not being able to get through games — we wanted to make sure we had another true guard on the roster to help us, a guy who had experience that can come jump right in there if need be.”

Lutui signed on Tuesday.

“He’s learning the offense as we speak,” Munchak said on the radio show. “He spent a whole day in the book, and we’d like to try to get him caught up as quickly as we can. So he should be a very good addition for us, especially if we need someone to go in there and play and win football games, and he’s ready to do that.”

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/09/12/lutui-signing-adds-depth-at-ailing-guard-spot/feed/0Titans reach one-year deal with veteran guardhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/09/10/titans-reach-one-year-deal-with-g-deuce-lutui/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/09/10/titans-reach-one-year-deal-with-g-deuce-lutui/#commentsMon, 10 Sep 2012 21:21:54 +0000JIM WYATT, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=21768The Titans have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with guard Deuce Lutui, who worked out for the team last week. Lutui played for the Cardinals from 2006-11. He spent the offseason with the Seahawks, who released him last month.

Lutui was scheduled to fly to Nashville on Monday night and sign on Tuesday. The Titans will have to release a player from the 53-man roster to make room for Lutui. Several other teams were interested in his services.

“This looks to Deuce and myself like the best possible fit,” agent Ken Harris said.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/09/10/titans-reach-one-year-deal-with-g-deuce-lutui/feed/0Titans work out several players on Mondayhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/09/03/titans-work-out-defensive-linemen-wynn-richardson/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2012/09/03/titans-work-out-defensive-linemen-wynn-richardson/#commentsMon, 03 Sep 2012 19:48:32 +0000JIM WYATT, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=21553In addition to former Packers defensive end Jarius Wynn, the Titans worked out former Raiders defensive lineman Tim Richardson on Monday. Richardson, a fifth round pick of the Raiders in 2007, has also been with the Seahawks and Jets. He has seven career sacks.

The Titans didn’t have immediate plans to sign either player, although Wynn could be signed later.

The Titans also worked out former Cardinals and Seahawks offensive lineman Deuce Lutiu on Monday, along with former Eagles guard Mike Gibson, former Broncos and Steelers tackle Tony Hills and former Texans guard Kasey Studdard.